This paper examines the behaviour in ocean waves of floating structures that incorporate open-bottom tanks on their submerged hull geometry. These tanks contain water columns that can flow in or out through their open bottoms, and may also include a volume of trapped air on the top of such water columns. The trapped air acts as a spring with the motion of the floating structures in ocean waves being influenced by interactions between the vessel, the air springs and the water columns underneath them. During operations, the volume of air above the water columns can be trapped or allowed to flow freely to and from the atmosphere.
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